Moeen likely to open - Bayliss

Moeen Ali looks to have won the race to open alongside Alastair Cook in the first Test against Pakistan after England's coach, Trevor Bayliss, admitted the allrounder had "his nose in front". Amid several selection issues, Jos Buttler's place as wicketkeeper could also be under threat and Bayliss said he hoped to be able to inform the players of the team over the weekend.

Neither Moeen, who batted twice, nor Alex Hales made a significant score in England's final warm-up match, a situation Bayliss described as "not ideal". Moeen, England's senior spinner, had been batting at No. 8 but is now set to become Cook's seventh opening partner since the retirement of Andrew Strauss in 2012.

"I think at this stage Mo has probably got his nose in front," Bayliss said. "Alastair and I will sit down over the next day or so to discuss it and come up with the eleven so everyone knows what it is probably by [Sunday's] first practice session.

"It's probably not ideal. Obviously we've got Alex Hales here who we know can be an explosive batter. But I think Mo has shown that he's a good player against spin and he can play the pace bowling and he's handled the pressure during that Ashes series. If he is batting in the top six it does give us opportunities further down the line with the make-up of the team."

England dropped Adam Lyth after a disappointing Ashes and brought the uncapped Hales into the squad for the UAE. He has come to the fore in limited-overs cricket, and could yet get his Test opportunity against Pakistan or on the subsequent tour of South Africa, but England are set to go down the makeshift route despite the fact Moeen has never opened in first-class cricket.

Nevertheless, Bayliss backed Moeen to provide the same sort of impetus with the bat as he did from lower down the order during the victory over Australia, when he was England's third-highest scorer.

"I wouldn't necessarily say it was a problem position because Mo is a good enough player that he could actually be the answer," Bayliss said. "He could turn himself into that opening batter.

"My advice to him if he gets the nod is to go out and play his natural game. I think it will be very important to get decent starts over here against the new ball. The older the ball gets and the lower the wickets get, the harder it gets to score runs. We'll be looking to get off to a good start and if Mo can play his natural game that gives us the ability to get off to those good starts."

England also have concerns over the form of Buttler, although he enjoyed a lengthier spell in the middle after batting for a second time in Sharjah on Friday, and Bayliss was not able to guarantee his place. James Taylor made a half-century in his first appearance on tour and could come into the side, allowing Jonny Bairstow to take the gloves.

"His form has been a concern," Bayliss said of Buttler. "But it was good to see him out there looking like he was getting his touch back this afternoon and scoring some runs. But we've got to make a decision."

The final selection call is likely to be a straight choice between Mark Wood and Steven Finn for the third seamer's position, with Finn saying he would be "surprised" to play despite taking an impressive 4 for 16 on the first day against Pakistan A.